Typographical composing machine



Nov. 8, 1938. F. c. FROLANDER 2,135,748

TYPOGRAPHICAL c'omr'osme MACHINE Filed Jan. 22, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR m N m T T A Nov. s, 1938.

File i Jan. 22, 1938 5 Sheets-$11691, 3

INVENTOR ATTORNEY5 Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frank C. Frolander, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application January 22, 1938, Serial No. 186,352

20 Claims.

This invention relates to typographical composing machines, such as Linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States to O. Mergenthaler No, 436,532, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then composed into a line, the composed line transferred to the face of a slotted mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or Linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started.

More particularly, it relates to that class of machines designed to handle matrix fonts which differ from one another in the size and number of characters. These fonts, for example, may be the ordinary 90 character fonts used exclusively 20 for the composition of straight matter and the special 72 character fonts used for the composi- "tion of head letter or display matter.

The machines of the particular class stated are adapted to employ a plurality of superposed mag 25 azines arranged in a shift frame movable to bring any one of the magazines into operative relation with a magazine entrance channel at the rear, through which the matrices enter the magazine from the distributing mechanism, and an assem- 39 bler throat at the front through which the released matrices leave the magazine during the composition of a line.

Since '72 character and 90 character fonts may be used interchangeably in such machines, pro- 35 vision is made for adjusting the distributing mechanism and the assembling mechanism to correspond with the font in use at any time. The assembling mechanism includes two trains of connections, as for instance, two sets of reeds, either one of which can be selectively associated with the keyboard, one set for operating the escapement mechanisms associated with the magazines containing the 90 character fonts, and the other for operating the escapement mechanisms associated with the magazines containing the '72 character fonts, depending upon which type of font is in operative position.

Depending upon the class of work for which the machine is employed, it has been found desirable to provide for varying the arrangement or grouping in the shift frame, of the magazines containing the different fonts, i. e., a machine at one time may have one special 72 character font and the rest 90 character fonts, and at another 55 time, two special 72 character fonts and the rest 90 character fonts, etc., and with the fonts arranged in different relative positions with respect to one another. In other words, a machine at different times may have magazine groupings varying both as to the number of 72 and 90 character fonts employed, as well as to the relative positions of the fonts in the shift frame.

To facilitate the use of such various magazine groupings, there is provided, in accordance with the present improvements, mechanism which is adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the magazines, and which operates automatically to select the appropriate trainof connections or set of reeds for use with the operative font. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the improved mechanism includes a cam device, the peripheral configuration of which determines the selection of the appropriate set of reeds, and which is manually adjustable to bring different portions of its periphery into use, depending upon the specific font grouping.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a Linotype machine equipped with the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the cam device for operating the reed selecting mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2; and

Figs. 4 to '7 are face views of the cam device, showing the different positions it will occupy for one specific grouping of fonts.

The machine shown in the drawings (see Fig. 1) is equipped with four superposed magazines A A A A the lower two, A A being of standard form, that is provided with 91 grooves or chanels spaced apart in the usual way to adapt them to contain a regular 90 character font, whereas the upper two, A A although of the same width as the magazines A A are provided each with only '73 grooves or channels spaced apart in a different manner to adapt them to contain a 72 character display font.

The magazines A A A A are mounted on separate base frames A connected together'at the rear by upright side plates A and constituting a shift frame N, which is arranged to be raised and lowered in the well known manner by operation of a hand crank B, so as to bring any selected one of the magazines into operative position.

When either of the two lower magazines A A is in operative position, the regular magazine entrance B is employed to deliver the matrices thereto from the distributing mechanism and, when either of the two upper magazines A A occupies such operative position, the special magazine entrance C is so employed. The two entrances differ in the number and spacing of their partition plates, the entrance B presenting 91 channels to cooperate with the magazines A3, A4, and the entrance presenting but 73 channels to cooperate with the magazines A A The entrances B and C, arranged in inverted relation to each other, are rotatably mounted so that either may be brought into the operative posi' tion, as desired. Their individual supporting frames are fastened together and constitute a reversible holder or support, which is arranged so that it may be given successive half turns to bring first one entrance and then the other into use.

The machine is equipped with a distributor comprising two distinct distributor bars B C and a common set of matrix conveying screws H. The bar B is provided with 91 toothed combinations equally spaced apart to correspond to the spacing of the matrix channels in the magazine entrance B and the regular magazines A A whereas, the bar 0 is provided with only '73 combinations which are unequally spaced apart to correspond to the spacing of the matrix' channels in the magazine entrance C and the special magazines A A The distributor bars B and C are pivotally mounted, so that either may be rocked intoo'perative relation to the conveying screws I-I, depending upon whether the entrance channel B or the entrance channel C is in operative position.

As the matrices are released from the individual magazines for composition in line, they enter the assembler entrance V which presents a vertical main section V and a pair of throat sections V V The main section V is made up of a back plate V a cover plate V and a series of intervening partitions V5, the said back and partitions being cut away at the top to accommodate the throat sections V V These throat sections are inverted with relation to each other and are rotatably mounted for interchange, one of the throat sections being employed when a '72 character font is in operative position, and the other when a 90 character font is in operative position. An ordinary hinged transparent plate V is employed to deflect the matrices downwardly as they pass through the individual throat sections V or V this plate being common to both throat sections and serving as the upper wall of each selected section.

The magazines A A A A are each provided with escapements a, which control the release of the matrices therefrom and which are adapted to be actuated when the selected magazine is in operative position by a series of pivoted levers P. The levers are alined horizontally and operated from a keyboard P through connections which may include two series of vertically disposed reeds P P arranged one behind the other and having their lower ends terminating above the keyboard P The reeds P (91 in number) of the front set are substantially straight and have their upper ends arranged to engage all the escapement actuating levers P; whereas the reeds P (73 in number) of the rear set, while having their lower end portions alined with corresponding reeds of the front set, are offset in different directions and to different extents to locate their upper end portions in engaging relation to selected levers P which cooperate with the escapements associated with the 72 font magazines. The reeds P P are operated by a series of fore-and-aft levers P controlled from the finger keys of the keyboard through the usual series of power-operated cam yokes (not shown) and a single series of short reed sections or rods P The levers P are pivotally mounted and guided at their rear ends in an adjustable bar P and formed near their front ends with upward projections p. The bar P is mounted in a fixed horizontal supporting frame I? and is slidable forwardly and backwardly therein to locate the projections p of the levers P in operative relation to the front and rear sets of reeds P P respectively.

So far as described, the parts, their construction and mode of operation are or may be the same as disclosed in the Burt Patent No. 1,928,716, and to which reference may be had, if desired;

According to the present improvements, the bar P is moved to its different positions of adjustment through the medium of a horizontal rock shaft E journalled in the supporting frame P and a pair of depending arms E pinned at the opposite ends of said rock shaft and which, at the bottom, are connected, through links E to depending portions of the bar P the arrangement being such that, as the shaft E is rocked in a counterclockwise direction, looking at the machine from the right, the bar P moves to its rearmost position, wherein the levers P are in position for actuating the reeds P (those for operating the escapements of the '72 character fonts) whereas, when the shaft is rocked in the opposite direction, the bar P is moved forwardly to locate the levers P in position to operate the reeds P (those for operating the escapements of the 90 character fonts).

The operation of the rock shaft E is controlled from a pair of cams F, F through a double-armed lever E pinned to the shaft and provided at its ends with anti-friction rollers E E the roller E being arranged to track along the periphery of the cam F, whereas the other roller E is arranged to track along the periphery of the cam F The cams F, F are complementary in their peripheral edges, 11. e., when a high portion of the cam F is opposite its associated anti-friction roller E, a low portion of the cam F is opposite its associated anti-friction roller E and for this'position of the parts the levers P will occupy their rearmost positions of adjustment; and conversely, when a low portion of the cam F is opposite the anti-friction roller E a high portion of the cam F is opposite the anti-friction roller E so as to cause the levers P to occupy their forward positions of adjustment. In other words, the cam arrangement is such that the rock shaft will be moved to its diiferent positions positively by the arrival of a high portion of one or another of the cams opposite its respective roller, accompanied by the simultaneous arrival of a low portion of the other cam opposite its respective roller.

As shown in Fig. 2, the cams are screwed together, thus operating as a unit which is splined to a sleeve G rotatably mounted on a shaft G supported at one end in a portion of the fixed bracket P". The sleeve is also supported during its rotation in a bearing P presented by another portion'of the bracket P and through which the sleeve extends. Endwise movement of the cams with respect to the sleeve is prevented by a small set screw threaded into a hole drilled in the hub portion of one of the cams and which engages in a recess formed in the sleeve G.

The rotation of the cams F, F to effect the rocking of the shaft E is controlled by the vertical movement of the shift frame through the medium of a long vertical link J (see Fig. 1) pivoted at its upper end to a lug projecting from the lowermost member of the frame A At its lower end, the link is formed with an elongated slot J which engages a cross pin J mounted at the rear end of a crank arm F journalled at its front end on the shaft G and which has a hub portion in the form of a plate F connected in a manner, hereinafter described, to the cam unit. According to this arrangement, as the shift frame is moved upwardly, the came unit, through the connections just described, will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction; whereas, when the shift frame is moved downwardly, the cam unit will be rotated in the reverse direction.

Under normal operating conditions, the crank arm F is connected to its operating link J at a definite point near the center of the slot J However, as a safety precaution, this connection has been designed to permit the link to move with respect to the cross pin J in the event some obstruction is presented to the movement of the cam unit. As shown in Fig. 3, the connection includes a circular member J having a pair of guiding lugs J 4 extending into the slot J in the link and a pair of projections J 5 having bevelled surfaces engaging in notches formed in the link to receive them. The link J and crank arm F are held together between a head J with which the cross pin J 2 is provided and the member J 3 by a spring J 7 reacting between the member and a washer J held in place by a pair of lock nuts J threaded onto the end of the cross pin. The force of the compression spring is sufficient, under ordinary circumstances, to maintain the proper connection between the link and the crank arm. Should some obstruction be presented to the movement of the parts, the bevelled projections J on the member J will be camrned out of the notches in the link J, so that the latter can move with respect to the cross pin, with no consequent damage to the parts.

Since the complete travel of the shift frame from a position, wherein the topmost magazine A is in operative position to a position wherein the lowermost magazine A is in operative position and back again, involves only a partial rotation of the cam unit, it is apparent that, if the portions of the cam peripheries which cooperate with the rollers E E are formed with high portions and low portions in a given relation or sequence, depending upon the grouping of fonts in the shift frame, the rotation of the cams in accordance with the movement of the shift frame can be made to operate the bar P in a manner to locate the levers P in operative relation with the series of reeds P when a magazine containing a 72 character font is in operative position, and in operative relation with the series of reeds P when a magazine containing a character font is in operative position. Thus, in the illustrative embodiment, the magazine grouping is one wherein the two upper magazines contain special '72 character fonts, and the two lowermost magazines regular 90 character fonts. The setting of the cams F, F for this magazine grouping is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7. In accordance with this setting, when the topmost magazine is in operative position, the cams F, F and the rock shaft E operated thereby will have the relative positions shown in Fig. 4 and, under these conditions, the bar P will occupy its rearmost position,"wherein the levers P are in operative association with the reeds P In the relative positions shown, a high portion of the cam F is located opposite the roller E whereas a low portion of the cam F is located opposite the roller E If the shift frame is now raised to bring the second 72 character font into operative position, the cam unit is turned to the position shown in Fig. 5, wherein, it will be observed, there is still a high portion of the cam F opposite its roller E and a low portion of the cam F opposite the roller E Consequently, the shaft E will not be rocked, so that the relative positions of the levers P and the reeds P will be as before. Now, if the shift frame is raised to bring the third magazine into operative position. which. as will be recalled, contains a 90 character font, the cam unit will be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 6. During this rotation of the cam unit and by virtue of its configuration, a low portion of the cam F will arrive opposite the roller E and a high portion of the cam F opposite the roller E thus causing the rock shaft E to be turned in a clockwise direction to the position shown and, as it is thus turned, the bar P will be moved to its foremost position of adjustment to locate the levers P in operative association with the reeds P 1. e., those for operating the escapements associated with a 90 character font. And similarly, if the shift frame is again raised to bring the lowermost magazine, which likewise contains a 90 character font, into operative position, the cam unit will be turned to the position shown in Fig. 7, wherein another low portion of the cam F is opposite the roller E and a high portion of the cam F opposite the roller E As this movement of the cam involves no movement of the rock shaft, the previous adjustment of the levers P wherein they are operatively associated with the reeds Pa for operating the escapements of a 90 character font will be maintained. And regardless of whether the shift frameis moved up or down, the arrival of any magazine in operative position will automatically locate the cam unit in a position, wherein the levers P will be positioned for operating the set of reeds corresponding to the font in that particular magazine. From what has been said, it will be apparent that, for any grouping of 72 and 90 character fonts in the shift frame, the levers P can be shifted to render the appropriate set of reeds P P active by rotatively adjusting the cam unit to different positions and designing the cams thereof with high and low portions following one another in such order that, as the shift frame is moved throughout its full range of travel, the active portion of the cam unit will cause the rock shaft to be turned to adjust the levers P into a position to cooperate with the rear set of reeds P when a '72 character font is moved into operative position, and into a position to cooperate with the front set of reeds P when a 90 character font is moved into operative position. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the cam unit is adjustable to twelve different positions with respect to the crank arm F and, for each different adjustment, the configuration of the active portion of its peripheral edges corresponds to a different grouping of fonts in the shift frame.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 7, it will be noted that the cam unit is formed with twelve holes F equally spaced along a circular pitch line near the outer edge of the cam F, three of which in any given setting of the unit, will be engaged by three studs F projecting laterally from the face of the plate F forming part of the hub of the crank arm F The operative engagement of the cam unit with the studs, and consequently with the crank arm, is maintained by a compression spring G encircling a reduced portion of the sleeve G on which the cam unit is mounted and located within theconfines of the bearing P The spring reacts between an annular shoulder G presented by the sleeve and a circular plate G through which the sleeve extends and which is fastened at one end of the bearing P as by screws g. A cylindrical dial G formed with a knurled portion, is fixedly mounted at the end of the sleeve G to facilitate the adjustment of the cam unit.

According to this arrangement, the proper adjustment of the cam unit for any given grouping of fonts in the shift frame is obtained by pulling the dial against the action of the spring G from the solid line position shown in Fig. 3 to the dotted line position shown therein, or until the cam unit clears'the studs F thence turning the dial to the setting required by the font grouping, and thereafter releasing it, thus a1- lowing the cam unit to be restored to its normal position, under the action of the spring G the studs F at this time entering a different set of holes F in the cam unit and which correspond to the new setting.

The proper setting of the cam unit for a given grouping of fonts in the shift frame is indicated by different legends G arranged around the cylindrical surface of the dial, in cooperation with a pointer P formed in the outer surface of the bearing P The legends represent different magazine groupings and, when any one thereof registers with the pointer, the cam unit will be located in a position properly to adjust the levers P to select the proper set of reeds P P for operation with the different fonts of a group .in the shift frame and which corresponds to such legend. Thus, as previously stated, the illustrative embodiment depicts a grouping, wherein the upper two magazines contain 72 character fonts and the lower two magazines character fonts. The adjustment of the cam unit for this grouping is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein it will be observed that the legend in register with the pointer bears the notation 72-72 9090. If the upper three magazines in the shift frame contained each a 72 character font and the lowermost magazine a 90 character font, the proper setting of the cam unit for such grouping would be obtained by adjusting the dial in a clockwise direction through one space, looking at the parts from the left in Fig. 3 or if the uppermost and lowermost magazines'in the shift frame contained each a 72 character font and the two intermediate magazines, each a 90 character font, the proper setting of the cam unit for such grouping would be obtained by adjusting the dial in the opposite direction through one space from the position shown in Fig. 3, the adjustments referred to being indicated by the legends on the dial. And in the same manner, the cam unit can be adjusted for any grouping of fonts in the shift frame, merely by adjusting the dial to the proper setting, as indicated by the various legends thereon.

At this point, it might be stated that, while each adjustment of the cam unit renders four positions thereof active for a group of four fonts, the sequence of high and low portions is such that it is necessary only toadjust it through one position to enable its use for a different grouping of four fonts. In'this way, the size of the various parts is materially diminished.

In the embodiment illustrated, the improved mechanism has been designed to accommodate twelve different font groupings, and this number will be sufiioient for ordinary commercial use. However, it will be apparent that the mechanism could be employed for a larger number of font groupings, if desired, merely by changing the peripheral configuration of the cams and the number of legends on the dial in accordance with the teachings herein disclosed. Furthermore, it will be understood that the present improvements are not limited to a four magazine machine, but are applicable equally as well to a machine adapted to employ a larger or a smaller number of magazines.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, and obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, means for rendering any selected magazine operative for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including 'two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the magazines for automatically selecting the appropriate train of connections for use with the operative magazine.

2. A typographical composing machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for automatically selecting the appropriate train of connections is actuated as the respective magazines are rendered operative for the release of matrices therefrom.

3. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, means for rendering any selected magazine operative for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means including a cam device adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the magazines for automatically selecting the appropriate train of connections for use with the operative magazine.

4. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, means for rendering any selected magazine operative for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the mag- 75' azines, and means including a cam device adjustable to a plurality of different settings and adapted in each setting and upon operation to select the appropriate train of connections for use with the respective magazines of a different magazine grouping.

5. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped. with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, means for moving the magazines to bring any one thereof into operative position for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the magazines for automatically selecting the appropriate train of connections for use as a given magazine is moved into operative position.

6. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, means for rendering any selected magazine operative for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for release ing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two sets of reeds selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the magazines for automatically selecting the appropriate set of reeds for use with the operative magazine.

7. A typographical composing machine according to claim 6, wherein the means for automatically selecting the appropriate set of reeds is actuated as the respective magazines are rendcred operative for the release of matrices therefrom.

8. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, means for rendering any selected magazine operative for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two sets of reeds selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means including a cam device adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the magazines for automatically selecting the appropriate set of reeds for use with the operative magazine.

9. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, means for rendering any selected magazine operative for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two sets of reeds selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means including a cam device adjustable to a plurality of different settings and adapted in each setting and upon operation to select the appropriate set of reeds for use with the respective magazines of a different magazine grouping.

10. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in

combination, means for moving the magazines to bring any one thereof into operative position for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and includingtwo sets of reeds selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the magazines for automatically selecting the appropriate set of reeds for use as a given magazine is moved into operative position.

11. A typographical composing machine adapt ed to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped various relative positions and including, in combination, a shift frame wherein the magazines are mounted and movable to bring any selected one of the magazines into operative position for the release of matrices therefrom, keycontrolled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the magazines and operated by the movement of the shift frame automatically to select theappropriate train of connections for use with the selected magazine.

12. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, a shift frame wherein the magazines are mounted and movable to bring any selected one of the magazines into operative position for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, means including an adjustable cam device operated by the movement of the shift frame automatically to select the appropriate train of connections for use with the respective magazines of a given grouping, and means for adjusting the cam device for other magazine groupings.

13. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, means for rendering any selected magazine operative for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, means including a cam device adjustable to a plurality of different settings and adapted in each setting and upon operation to select the appropriate train of connections for use with the respective magazines of a different magazine grouping, and means for adjusting the cam device including an element bearing legends indicative of the various magazine groupings.

14:. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, a shift frame wherein the magazines are mounted and movable to bring any selected one of the magazines into operative position for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, means including an adjustable cam device operated by the movement of the shift frame automatically to select the appropriate train of connections for use with the respective magazines of a given grouping, and means for adjusting the cam device for other magazine groupings, said means including a dial bearing legends indicative of the various magazine groupings for which the cam device can be adjusted.

15. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, means for rendering any selected magazine operative for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means including a cam device adjustable to a plurality of different settings to render different portions of the cam device active and adapted in each setting and upon operation to select the appropriate train of connections for use with the respective magazines of a difierent magazine grouping, the active portions of the cam device in the different settings overlapping one another.

16. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, means for rendering any selected magazine operative for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means including a cam device rotatably adjustable to a plurality of different settings and adapted in each setting and upon operation to select the appropriate train of connections for use with the respective magazines of a different magazine grouping, and means for manually rotating the cam device to efiect the desired adjustment.

17. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, a shift frame wherein the magazines are mounted and movable to bring any selected one of the magazines into operative position for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the magazines and operated positively by the shift frame as it is moved to bring a selected magazine into operative position, automatically to select the appropriate train of connections for use with the selected magazine.

18. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, a shift frame wherein the magazines are mounted and movable to bring any selected one of the magazines into operative position-for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, and means including a cam for each train of connections adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the magazines and operated positively by the shift frame as it is moved to bring a selected magazine into operative position automatically to select the appropriate train of connections for use with the selected magazine.

19. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of difierently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, a shift frame wherein the magazines are mounted and movable to bring any selected one of the magazines into operative position for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, means adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the magazines and operated positively by the shift frame as it is moved to bring a selected magazine into operative'position automatically to select the appropriate train of connections for use with the selected magazine, and safety mechanism intermediate the shift frame and said means for preventing damage to the parts in the event of an obstruction to the operation thereof.

20. A typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of differently channeled magazines capable of being grouped in various relative positions and including, in combination, a shift frame wherein the magazines are mounted and movable to bring any selected one of the magazines into operative position for the release of matrices therefrom, key-controlled mechanism for releasing the matrices from the magazines for composition and including two trains of connections selectively operable according to the channeling in the magazines, means including a cam for each train of connections adjustable in accordance with the grouping of the FRANK C. FROLANDER. 

